Page 3 of Shift of Morals (Shifter Lords #2)

Chapter

Two

T he preservation spell wasn’t exactly successful, not without tapping into some hefty Floromancy. I wasn’t charging the woman nearly enough to do that, so once I had the bouquet stable and the flower heads reattached, I stepped outside the wards to find the others.

Moira was just finishing up with a customer, and Tess was busy putting together the beginnings of Hattie’s flower arrangement. Ash was next to her, scribbling something in the ledger.

“It looks a little better,” Moira hedged, keeping her distance.

“But it still feels the same,” Ash said.

“He’s a bad man,” Tess remarked, the words an earlier echo of when the flowers had first come through our doors.

Tess was right. Whoever this groom was, he hurt his bride.

Repeatedly. I couldn’t get a strong enough read on the flowers to tell exactly what he was doing to her, but I felt the need to find out who he was and inform his Alpha.

All I could hope was that his Alpha wasn’t Caelan. “I think he’s a shifter.”

Moira’s attention snapped to me. “One of Caelan’s?”

“Impossible to tell. Can we get the mom in here?”

Moira held up a finger. “Let me get the book.”

She was back in less than a minute, flipping through the orders. “Here. The mother’s name is Amy. Would you rather I email or call?”

“Put this one in writing. Do we have the lines set up to record?” It was one more security touch I added after the run-in with Finn.

“All we have to do is push the button,” Tess assured me.

“Good. If Amy or the bride calls, make sure you push record.”

“Will do, boss!”

I glanced at Tess. The banshee never sounded cheery, and this response was way too chipper. She gave me an awkward smile, which made my brow furrow.

“Okay,” I said slowly. “Moira, let me know what she says. I’d like to know if she used a wedding planner and the person’s name. Asking the groom’s name might make her suspicious, so maybe just ask the wedding date and the location. If she asks why, tell her we’re making a plaque.”

“Alright. I’ll forward what she says.” She frowned at the bouquet and shivered. “That thing gives me the creeps.”

“Me too. The spell should hold for now, but the residual magic keeps breaking down the preservation. It needs to be cleared.”

“Can’t you take care of it?” Ash asked.

“I can, but I’d like to wait for Hazel. She has more experience with magic like this.

” A frown curved my lips down. “Although I’m not sure if it’s magic at all or maybe just the groom’s essence.

Evil is ingrained into the very heart of these flowers.

Having all the information we can about the groom will only help.

” I shrugged. “And if it’s one of Caelan’s people, I might hand this over to him and let him handle it before Hazel arrives. ”

Washing my hands of the thing was my preference.

Getting involved in the Shifter Lord’s world wasn’t something I’d be foolish enough to attempt again, even though I’d been roped into doing his wedding.

Our negotiated contract would keep me out of the limelight and relegated to the shadows, which is exactly where I wanted to stay.

He and his bride would have stunning flowers.

I’d receive kickback business from cleverly placed logos on the table centerpieces, and he and his new Lordette could ride off into the sunset and have tons of shifter puppies to dote on.

“Once we leave here, I’ll put the wards back up, tightly contained to the table. Try not to disturb them. Once we hear back, I’ll figure out the best way to go about getting this out of our shop.” I gave them a hopeful smile. “Sound good?”

“The sooner the better,” Tess said as she floated away.

“Agreed.” Ash followed her out, leaving me and Moira alone.

“And you?” I said.

She grinned. “We both know I agree with them. That thing is super creepy, and I love flowers. And weddings.”

For a vampire, Moira was a softie. “Hazel should be here in a few days. She’ll know what to do.”

She gave me a curious glance. “I think you already know what to do. You’re hesitating. Why? That’s not very Evie-like behavior. Especially over the last couple of months.”

I snorted. “I think you answered your own question. Look what’s happened over these months.”

Moira’s eyebrows flicked up. “Uh. A hot Shifter Lord cast his eyes upon you, and our fearless protagonist, one Evangeline Quinn, found her shiny spine.”

“And her ex-boyfriend came back and tried to kill her. Again.”

“Semantics,” Moira said with a flick of her fingers. “He didn’t succeed.”

“It was close. Too close.”

She grinned. “You still kicked his ass. I bet his rear was hot for days.”

With his healing abilities, any burns would have sealed within a few minutes. But …it was satisfying to chuck him right into an open flame. “Your faith in me is a little unsettling,” I said after a moment.

“Not misplaced, though. You underestimate yourself. Few people could have kicked a Chimera’s ass, but you did it and sent him packing.”

“It was mostly due to terror,” I said dryly.

“Yes, well, imagine what you can do when you know what you’re fully capable of.” Moira waved at the bouquet shimmering with malevolent magic. “Lock that thing down and come out and have lunch with us. We’ll check on Hazel’s progress.”

I nodded as Moira headed toward the front. Hazel would get here when she got here. She’d never been great with time or a schedule and seemed to show up at the exact time she was needed, regardless of whether you agreed you needed her.

Shaking my head, I resealed the wards and headed to the front.

After a hearty lunch of chicken salad croissants and chips, Tess and Ash went to the greenhouse to gather more flowers for Hattie’s bouquet, leaving me and Moira at the register.

A slow but steady trickle of customers kept us busy, but things died down around three o’clock.

I made a pot of dark roast coffee and popped a few frozen chocolate chip scones in the air fryer to bake.

But when the bell over the doorbell jingled, and Moira turned to give me a sympathetic wince, I knew the day was about to change for the worse.

Simone Ashmoore, Caelan’s Omega, and high up in the Shifter Lord’s pack, walked in, her normally smiling green eyes sweeping the entrance for potential threats. When our eyes locked, her lips tightened before relief filled her face.

“Evie. Hi. You’re just the person I came to see.”

“I’d hope so,” Moira drawled. “You are in her shop.”

Simone’s nostrils flared.

“Moira,” I said in quiet rebuke. The vampire rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the inventory list Ash had left her.

“Simone, please, come on in. Do you want some coffee? Scones will be ready in a couple of minutes if you want one of those too.”

She gave me a grateful smile but shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m only here for a moment.”

Not too long ago, I thought I might have a friend in this woman, but things had changed once she’d popped into the shop to announce Caelan’s engagement. It wasn’t her fault, but a wedge was driven between us at that moment, and we were at an odd impasse.

Simone was and would always be loyal to Caelan, and I was simply Evie, a florist with mixed-up heritage doing her very best to stay under the radar in a world that kept trying to drag her into the spotlight.

“If you’re here about the wedding, I have some ideas sketched out if you want to take them back.

I didn’t have too much to go on, but I figured a Shifter Lord’s wedding was big business, so I drew up some extravagant arrangements and some middle of the road ones.

He and his future bride will have to choose the flowers and whatnot, but I think either should work. ”

Simone’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sure they’re beautiful, but I’m here to invite you to the Keep in two days' time for a meeting to finalize the happy couple’s vision.”

My jaw tightened at her words. Considering I had Caelan in here backing me against a wall with sexual tension crackling over my skin just a few weeks ago, was the couple really happy, or was this yet another political game I couldn’t get caught up in?

“I’m not sure why I need to attend a meeting, Simone.

I’ve drawn up sketches, prepared mood boards, and have a few samples awaiting their perusal in my walk-in fridge.

I’m happy to send those back with you. The happy couple is more than welcome to make additions or subtractions, change colors, or anything they like. ”

“I’m truly sorry,” Simone said, and to her credit, she did sound remorseful. “I’m sure the samples are wonderful, but the Shifter Lord insists you attend in person.”

“Of course he does,” I muttered.

Moira snorted. “Since when does the Lord give a shit about hydrangeas or peonies? He was perfectly happy to leave that all up to Evie the last time she worked for him. Seems strange he’d suddenly develop an opinion overnight about floral choices.”

One of my eyebrows rose as I waited for Simone to address Moira’s words.

Her polite smile faltered. “Evie, you know I am just the messenger.” She blew out a breath.

“Listen,” she said urgently. “I cannot divulge any information, but please don’t be difficult about this.

There are things in play you cannot possibly imagine.

If you don’t want to attend because of Caelan, please consider it a personal favor to me.

” Simone cleared her throat. “Plus, Lord Rowan will be there, and he has personally requested to see you again.”

I had a soft spot for Rowan. Our magic was not dissimilar, and he seemed like he was a good dude. For a Shifter Lord, anyway. But Simone was acting strangely. “Is everything okay?”

Simone nodded. “For now.” She pulled an iPad from her purse and opened the case. “Can I count on your attendance?”

I sighed. “Fine. What should I bring besides the sketches and samples?”

Simone’s shoulders sank with relief. “Just any ideas you have and any examples. Thank you so much, Evie. I won’t forget this.”

“You better not,” I grumbled.

This time, the smile reached her eyes. “For what it’s worth, this took us all by surprise,” she said softly. “Even Caelan.”

Before I could respond to that bombshell, Simone had turned and breezed through the door, a scent of jasmine perfume in her wake.

I turned to Moira, feeling completely befuddled.

Moira had the same look on her face I assumed I was wearing.

“Huh,” she said. “Is this a shotgun wedding or something?”

I laughed, the sound breaking the awkward silence. “No idea. It’s pretty difficult for shifters to get pregnant, isn’t it?”

Moira shrugged. “They can’t get diseases, so you know none of those horndogs are wrapping up their wieners.”

“No one says wieners anymore, you ancient idiot.” I snickered as I went over to the register to grab my cell so I could add the appointment onto my calendar.

“It feels way too much like a romance novel to say cock.”

I held up a hand. “Please. No.”

She tapped her pen on the wood. “Have you seen the bride before?”

“Never. There aren’t many women in the Keep to begin with. But when he came to the shop and even when he was at home, I never saw any females other than Simone and one of his mated shifters around.”

“Maybe she’s not from the Keep.”

“It doesn’t matter. She’s Caelan’s fiancée, and we’ll meet her soon enough.”

Moira grinned. “I can’t wait to see how this meeting goes.”

I crumpled a duplicate receipt and tossed it at her. “You’ll behave. Caelan is throwing enough money at us to sustain the shop for years. We will both be on our best behavior. Promise?”

Moira sighed but made an x motion over her chest. “Cross my heart.”

I narrowed my eyes, but Moira wore an innocent expression. “Two days from now,” I reminded her. “Wear business professional.”

“I’ll look like a million bucks.”

I slung my purse over my shoulder. “Just look normal, please. And like we know what we’re doing.”

“That too.” She nodded eagerly, and a knot of worry uncurled in my stomach.

“I’m heading home. Mind closing up shop?”

“Not at all. Tess and Ash should be back shortly. We’ll work on Hattie’s bouquet, so you won’t have to do as much tomorrow.”

I shot her a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

“You got it, boss.” She waved me away. “Get out of here. We’ve got it under control.”

I’m glad one of us did.